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Post by catseye on Feb 22, 2024 11:39:55 GMT -5
Another boat disappears offshore of the West Coast with four men on board. This tragedy could have been averted for less then $400 if they had just one PLB on board.
Over the years I have known several affluent South Fla boaters who fish offshore that will never buy a PLB or an EPIRB. Their attitude has always perplexed me.To explain it I often have equated it to the same attitude about people who refuse to wear seat belts while driving vehicles.
The reasons they state for their reluctance to bolster their safety are usually very lame in logic. Below is a list of some of the reasons I have heard in this reguard to PLB’s and EPIRB’s
1.) I am not going to waste money on something I will never need.
2. I keep my boat in top shape so the possibility of it sinking is extremely remote.
3.) If I bought a PLB it would cause me take chances I would never consider if I did not have one.
4.) Superstition: Buying a PLB is tempting fate.
5.) I have a VHF radio and a cell phone.
6..) I seldom venture for offshore so if I get in trouble another other boaters will render aid.
Pleae feel free to add to this list.
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Post by Laxcoach on Apr 30, 2024 17:30:50 GMT -5
I haven’t lurked here much since fall. But my lacrosse season (HS head coach) just ended in Atlanta, and I’m gearing up for boat season.
I’ll be in the lower Keys for July/August instead of Hillsboro this year.
Anyway, I just had my wife and kids buy me a PLB and an auto inflating life jacket for my bday in March. When I troll down there, I like to get all the way to the wall which is 25 miles.
I also have the wireless man over board thing.
I had a moment last year about 25 miles off of Hillsboro where the fob for MOB stopped working. So I bypassed it. Then I was looking around at just water in every direction - and thought “if I go over while dealing with the outriggers, I’m dead and it won’t be quick.”
My plan is to attach the PLB to the life jacket when I’m alone and leave it on top of the center console when with people.
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Post by mapper on May 1, 2024 13:49:25 GMT -5
It has me looking at one and thinking hard..educating myself about diffrent mfg and models.. that may be some of the hesitation or slow adoption..not all are created equal..
If that pkg deal had the resqview RLS with the flare I'd be on it. Now I'm just thinking about 2 packs of f flares for both boats and the plb.. If I'm spending that much coin I'd like to know the signal was recieved and the unit tests good. I have 4 35 lb auto inflate vests and 2 standard ones on the CC..whistles on all of them. I need to hook up the vhf to the chartplotter to get position. The inshore boat has a pile of std vests and 2 25lb inflatables. No vhf on that boat.
The CC is 19' so furthest I've been out is 3-4 miles so far on public numbers. So I'll pick my days..
So I guess that's my excuse list.. Now I'm in big/bend area not keys, but it's still a excuse. I admit it.
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Post by Laxcoach on May 1, 2024 18:20:13 GMT -5
I got the ACR resqlink 400 on amazon for $370.
I don’t ever want to use it, but will provide peace of mind when I’m alone.
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Post by mapper on May 1, 2024 20:23:36 GMT -5
Yeah I got the flares squared away, thinking about a plb..
Too bad there isn't a "Mayday" sale on them.
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Post by knotright on May 4, 2024 7:01:52 GMT -5
I use an arc & pfd. Going offshore solo you would be dumb not to
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